Nonset stop for phonographs



July 29, 1924. I 1,502,769

J. E. FELTNER NONSET STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed May 25 1920 I5 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES INVENTOR -151M-bm James E. Felrner.

Br jivsoaw't ATTORNEYS July 29, 1924. 1,502,769

J. E.'F -ELTNER NONSET STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed May 25 192 9 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR James E. Felrner.

ATTORNEYS WI TNESSES NONSET' STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed y 25 1920 3 Sheet'sSheet 3 2 i N u u n1 1 12 4O 5 I I l 5/ )31 32 L F108 WITNESSES l INVENTOR J James E. Fehner.

A TTOR/VE Y8 Patented as 2a, 1924.

JAMES E. FELTNER, OF HANCOCK, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH COIVIPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

NONSET STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

Application filed May 25, 1920. Serial No. 384,087.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. FELTNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hancock, in the county of Washington andState of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nonset Stops for Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in phonograph stops, and it consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

One of the foremost objects of the inven: tion is to provide a phonograph stop which operates automatically and does not require re-setting for various sizes of records.

A further object of the invention is to provide a phonograph stop which is controlled by the pressure of the record groove against the stylus during. the reproduction of the piece; when the end of the groove is reached the mechanism acts automatically to stop the turntable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a phonograph stop of such construction as will permit the turntable to preliminarily make a predetermined number of turns before the mechanism is set into active position, thereby providing an ample margin of time in which the operator is enabled to set the reproducer in its proper position on the record.

A further object of the invention is to provide a phonograph stop which will act immediately upon lifting the reproducer and tone arm from the record, regardless of the position in which the reproducer may be between the beginning and end of the record groove.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for phonographs, in the nature of an auxiliary stop to cooperate with the stop already applied.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a phonograph, a part of the turntable being broken away to illustrate the stop mecha nism in the initial running position, in which and during the playing of the first thirty lines of the record, the stop arm is held inwardly under spring tension,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the stop mechanism in the normal running position, the safety ratchet having been run off, and the stop arm being heldinwardly by the pressure of the record grove on the stylus,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the stop mechanism, illustrating the position when all pres sure on the stop arm is relieved as when the stylus reaches the end of the record groove,

Figure 4 is a detail plan View illustrating the first act of the main cam, which is to throw the brake through the stop arm,

Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating the second act of the throwing cam, which is to restore the safety ratchet into position for readiness to operate when the turntable is again started,

Figure 6 is a detail cross section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, illustrating how the stop arm is kept under tension at its pivotal point to prevent loose play,

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 5, illustrating the relationship of the brake plunger to the safety ratchet, and

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 1, particularly illustrating the mounting for thetension arm for the stop arm.

The general construction illustrated in the drawings, comprises the phonograph l with the turntable 2, the spindle 3 of which carries a pinion 4, which in turn meshes with the control gear 5 ofthe improved automatic stop. The brake 6 is of an ordinary type, and according to custom, is so mounted that when tripped, bears against the flange of the turntable so as to stop its motion.

A base plate 7 is suitably secured on top of the phonograph cabinet 1 but beneath the turntable 2, by which it is concealed. extension 8 of the plate 7 has guides 9 slidably carrying the brake plunger 10, the head 11 of which is adapted to contact the adjacent part of the brake 6 and throw it, when the plunger 10 is actuated by the stop arm 12.

pin 16, in Figure 7, limits the inward move ment of the plunger 10, and a spring 17, mounted on one of the guides 9, bears on the side of the plunger and tends to insure the restoring shoulder 18 engaging the stud 19, pendent from the safety ratchet 20.

Suitable bearings 21 and 22 enable free revolution of the ratchet and control gear 5, respectively. The control gear revolves continuously while the table 2 turns, but the safety ratchet 20 makes but little more than a full revolution, and that with a step-bystep motion. This is produced by the periodic engagement of the lug 23 on the control gear 5, with the successive teeth 24 of the safety ratchet, of which one is removed to leave the blank 25. This blank permits the lug 23 to pass without actuating the safety gear, after the first thirty grooves of the record have been covered by the stylus.

A spring arm 26, pivoted at 27, slotted at 28 and curved at 29, through which curve the slot continues, carries the leaf spring 30 which initially urges the stop arm 12 toward the center of the control gear 5, by virtue of the yoke 31 mounted on the free end. This yoke is bent upwardly so as to contact the stop arm. A pin limits the rightward movement of the spring 30.

There is a spring pawl 83 in engagement with the safety ratchet 20 for the purpose of preventing the ratchet from moving more th n one tooth at a time. When the stop arm 12 is confined by the tension of the leaf spring 30. as is the case until approximately the first thirty grooves of the record have been traversed by the stylus S, the bent end 15 follows the path Z in Figure 1, the rubber abutment 34 limiting the inward movement of the arm, but the initiating cam 85 throwing or displacing the bent end 15 into the path X at every revolution of the control gear.

The path X marks the approach to the throwing cam 14, and were the bent end 15 permitted to remain in this path, the cam 14 would function to throw the plunger 10 at the next revolution of the control gear 5, but this contingency is initially avoided by the inward tension of the spring 30, and after approximately thirty of the grooves of the record have been traversed, then by the natural inward pressure on the stylus by the outer wall of the sound groove which it traverses.

The bracket 36, on which the abutment 34 is mounted, includes the extension 37 with the stop 38 at the extremity, serving to keep the free end of the stop arm 12 within its proper confines. This bracket may be made resilient so that the extension 37 may exert sufficient pressure on the stop arm 12 to keep it from objectionable oscillation.

The pivotal mounting 39 of the arm 12 includes the coil spring 40, which, being located between the bracket 41 and shoulder 42 of the pivot, applies suiiicient pressure on the interposed washer 43 to prevent undue lateral loose play of the stop arm. Either this form of tensioning device, or that mentioned above, may be employed.

The stop arm 12 is additionally stabilized by the tension arm 44, which not only exerts vertical spring pressure on the stop arm to keep the bent end 15 in contact with the control gear 5, but also aids the spring at the pivotal point, in preventing fluctuation of the arm. The latter effect is produced by means of the spring 45 between the flange of the set collar 46 on the tone arm T and the washer 47 on the head of the tension arm.

By pressing down on the washer 4?, the head of the tension arm is frictiona-lly held to prevent extremely loose turning, but at all events, neither the spring 45 nor 40 is strong enough to hinder the functions of the leaf spring 30. It is by means of the tension arm 44, which as stated, is mounted on the tone arm T, that the pressure of the outer wall of the sound groove against the stylus S, is utilized to keep the bent end 15 of the stop arm 12 in the path Z after the first thirty lines are travers d and the spring 30 no longer exerts pressure on the arm, as in Figure 2.

The operation may be readily understood by considering the successive steps taken by the mechanism during the playing of a record, beginning in Figure 1 and ending in Figure 5.

Step 1: The position in Figure 1 is that of the parts at the time when the table 2 ceases to turn at the end of the reproduction of'a record, and consequently also at the beginning of the reproduction of a new record. Assume a new record to have been placed, and the brake 6 disengaged to permit the table 2 to turn in the direction of the arrow a.

The turning of the control gear 5 causes the stepby-step advancement of the safety ratchet 20 through the periodic engagement of the lug 23 with the teeth 24 of the ratchet. The consequent movement of the pin 48 in the slot 28 of the spring arm 26, serves to gradually rock the arm on its fulcrum 2'7 and keep the spring 30 under tension so that the bent end of the yoke 31 urges the bent end 15 of the stop arm 12 toward the center of the control gear 5, and so confine it to the path Z.

It is only during the traversing by the stylus S of approximately the first thirty grooves of the record, that the spring 30 remains under tension by virtue of the functions of the pin 48 and arm 26, because after the first thirty grooves have been traversed a sufficient number of revolutions of the control gear 5 will have been made to have advanced the blank 25 of the safety ratchet 2O opposite the zone of movement of the lug 23, so that during the continued playing of the record, no effect is produced on the safety ratchet 2-0.

It is now, that is to say, after the first thirty grooves have been traversed, that th pressure of the outer wall of the groove against the stylus S acts through the tension arm 44 against the stop arm 12 to urge the bent end toward the center of the gear 5 and still keep it in the path Z. The normal playing position in Figure 2 has now been reached. Before proceeding, it is well to clearly point out in what respect the ratchet is a safety ratchet.

The stop mechanism is constituted that it will act almost instantly to stop the turntable 2 the moment that the tone arm 1 is lifted regardless of where the reproducer may be. In commencing to play a record, the operator will almost invariably release the turntable by shifting the brake 6 before placing the stylus S at the beginning of the grooves. This is also often accompanied by various shifting and raising motions of the tone arm, which, in the operation of this device, would cause the throwing of the brake 6, so as to again stop the turntable.

By allowing a margin of approximately thirty grooves or lines, counting in from the periphery, ample time is given the operator in which to place the stylus, the stop arm 12 being held toward the center of the control gear 5 in the meantime, by the spring 30 which is then under tension. Reverting now to Figure 2, the reader will recall that the normal running position therein represented, remains assumed with the tension of the spring 30 off of the arm 12, such tension being relieved by the occupancy of the pin Q55 in the highest part of the curved slot 29.

Assume the inner extremity of the sound groove to have been reached by the stylus. Pressure by the wall of the move being no longer exerted on the stylus, leaves the bent end 15 of the arm 12 unrestrained so that when the initiating cam 35 engages the bent 'I N T 1 J J J- i one. 1:) on the next revolution or the control gear 5, said bent end is moved out into the path X where it remains for another revolution of the control gear.

That revolution being performed, finds the leading point of the throwing cam let in engagement with the bent end 15 as in Figure 3, and as the bent end rides up the incline of the cam, the stop arm 12 is displaced toward the right as in Figure 1, initially moving the brake plunger 10 outwardly and thus exerting pressure to throw the brake 6 against the flange of the turntable.

Almost simultaneously with this. action the bent end 15 reaches the highest part or lobe of the throwing cam, continuing the outward motion of the plunger 10 so that the restoring teeth 18 engages the pendent stud 19 and moves the blank to one side as in Figure 5, in readiness for subsequent engagement of the teeth 2e by the lug 2-3 when the turntable is again started as explained in connection with Figure 1. The control gear 5 moves a sufiicient distance after the commencement of the throw'ng of the plunger 10 from the position in Fi ure 4, to enable the positions in Figures 5 and 1 to be assumed by the bent end 15. It is at the latter position that all parts are brought to a complete rest, and the tension of the spring 30 against the arm 12 restored by the movement of the pin a8 into the upper part of theslot 28 in the arm 26.

While the construction and arrangement of the improved phonograph stop as herein described and claimed,'is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes can be made without do; from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim 1. A phonograph stop, including step-bystep moving safety means adapted to prevent stopping of the turn-table through cessation of movement of the tone-arm during a predetermined period.

2. A phonograph stop, comprising styluscontrolled tone arnrrestrained means becoming operative to stop a turntable almost immediately after the stylus is lifted from a record; and safety means initially imposing a restraint on said stopping means to enable placing of the stylus on the record without danger of stopping the turntable by shifting movement of the stylus, the safety means remaining active for a predetermined period whereafte'r its functions are substituted by the stylus control of the stop means, the safety means including a step by-step moving element.

3. A. phonograph stop, including means normally latent to throw the brake of a revolving turntable, and means operating by the pressure of one wall of a record groove against a stylus to keep said stop means latent, but permitting said stop means to become active when the tone-arm is moved to move the stylus from the groove.

4. In combination with a turntable spin die, a normally retracted brake-actuating plunger, a stop arm swung out of plunger engagement during spindle revolution, and means actuated by the spindle for swinging the arm into engagement to project said plunger for throwing a brake and stopping the spindle at a predetermined time.

5. In combination with a turntable spindle, a retracted brake-throwing slidably mounted plunger, a stop arm urged out of plunger engagement during spindle revoartmg lution, and a cam mechanism idly operated in respect to said arm by the spindle for a predetermined length of time, then acting to displace the arm, project the plunger to throw a brake, and stop the spindle.

.6. In combination with the spindle and tone arm of a phonograph, a normally retracted brake-throwing slidably mounted plunger, a stop arm urged from the plunger by tone arm-carried means during spindle revolution, and means idly operated by the spindle until the tone arm-carried means ceases to urge the stop arm, then becoming active to displace the stop arm, project the plunger, throw a brake and stop the spindle.

7. In combination with a phonograph spindle, and tone arm carrying a repreducer; a retracted brake-throwing slidably mounted plunger, means carried by the tone arm, disengaging a stop arm from the plunger by the pressure of one wall of a record groove against the reproducer stylus, during spindle revolution; and means idly actuated by the spindle ouring the continuance of said pressure, but becoming active upon cessation thereof to engage the stop arm with the plunger to throw a brake and stop the spindle.

8. In combination with a phonogr ph spindle, and tone arm carrying a repreducer; a retracted brake-throwing slidabiy mounted plunger, a stop arm, with means holding it disengaged from the plunger while the reproducer stylus traverses a prescribed Zone, whereafter record groove wallpressure against the stylus substitutes said holding means to maintain the stop arm in disengagement with the plunger; and spintile-actuated means for moving the stop a n into engagement with the plunger to throw a bral: and stop the spindle when said groove wall-pressure on the stylus ceases.

9, In combination with a phonograph spindle, and tone arm carrying a reproducer; a retracted brake-throwing slidably mounted plunger, a stop arm, with a tension device holding the arm in disengagement with the plunger while the stylus initially traverses a prescribed record zone; means carried by the tone arm holding the stop arm disengaged by the pressure of the sound groove against the stylus, after the stylus passes out of the prescribed zone, and the tension means becomes dormant; and means actuated by the spindle for displacing the stop arm to project the plunger, throw the brake and stop the spindle when the stylus reaches the extremity of the sound groove and the wall-pressure thereagainst ceases.

10. In combination with a turntable spindie, and brake; a retracted slidably mounted plunger, a stop arm held from the plunger during spindle rotation, and a cam-disk idly revolved by the spindle but causing the displacement of the stop arm to project the plunger and throw the brake at a predetermined time, when the cam is permitted to come into registration with said stop arm.

11. In combination with a brake, a plunger retracted from the brake, a revolving disk with an initiator cam, and a throwing cam with the leading point in line with the lobe of the initiator cam; and a stop arm with means confining the free end in a path along the initiator cam to prevent projecting the plunger, said arm being released by said means at a predetermined time to then permit the displacement of said end into the path of the throwing cam by the lobe of the initiator cam, and thus project the plunger.

12. A. phonograph stop, comprising a brake-operating slidably mounted stop arm, and a throwing cam; and means associated with the cam for keeping the stop arm under tens on and diverted from the cam for a predetermined time, when said arm is relieved of tension to enter the path of the cam, thereby displacing the arm to operate the brake.

13. In combination with a brake, and tone arm carrying a reproducer; a moving throwing cam, a stop arm for throwing the brake. a tension device; and means preliminarily actuated by a part of the moving cam to cause the functioning of the tension device while the reproducer stylus traverses a prescribed record groove area whereat the tension device becomes dormant.

14. In combination with a brake, and tone arm carrying a reproducer; a moving throwing cam, a stop arm for throwing the brake. a tension device; means preliminarily actuated by a part of the moving cam to cause the functioning of the tension device while the reproducer stylus traverses a prescribed record groove area whereat the tension device becomes dormant, and means carried by the tone arm thereafter acting in substittn tion of said tension device, by virtue of groove wall-pressure against the stylus, to lreep the stop arm from brake-operation until the inner extremity of the groove is reached.

15. A phonograph stop, including a stop arm, and a cam adapted to move the arm and throw a brake; and means operatively associated with the cam preliminarily taking a step-by-step movement to produce tension on the stop arm so that the cam is avoided.

16. In combination with a revolving phonograph spindle, and tone arm carrying a reproducer; a spindle-actuated cam, adapted to shift a stop arm to throw a brake and stop the spindle, immediately upon lifting the reproducer and moving the tone arm toward the right; and means operatively as sociated with a part of the cam for initially keeping the stop arm under tension to avoid llO the cam, to allow for chance movements of the tone arm in placing the stylus, and thereafter until the stylus traverses a prescribed groove area.

17. In combination with a revolving phonograph spindle, and tone arm carrying a reproducer; a spindle-actuated gear with a throwing cam, and a lug; a brake-operating stop arm adapted to be displaced by the cam to actuate a brake, and means keeping the arm under tension to avoid the cam while the stylus traverses a prescribed groove area, including a ratchet with teeth successively engaged by the lug to produce a step-by-step motion until a blank place is reached, and an arm with a spring connection to the stop arm, and a pin and slot connection to the ratchet.

18. In a control device, a traveling ele ment and a rotating element, stop means, and actuating means therefor adapted to be automatically moved to stop-actuating position upon cessation of travel of the traveling element, and also adapted to be moved to stop-actuating position by the manual movement of the traveling element, and means associated with the brake means to prevent actuation thereof owing to cessation of travel of the traveling element for a predetermined initial period, said last means including a ratchet mounted for rotary step-by-step movement.

19. In a control device, a traveling ele ment and a rotating element, stop means, an oscillating member adapted, in one direction of movement, to actuate the stop means, means operatively connecting said oscillating member to the traveling element, other means operatively connecting said member to the rotating element and adapted upon cessation of travelof the traveling element to move said member to stop-actuating position, and means adapted to impart move ment to said member, corresponding to the movement imparted by the travel of the traveling element, during an initial period, said last mentioned means including an element having a step-by-step-movement 20. In a control device, a traveling element and a rotating element, stop means operated by said traveling and rotating etements, and adapted to be actuated to stop the rotating element upon the stopping of the traveling element, and auxiliary means adapted to act in substitution of the function of the traveling element during a predetermined initial period, the auxiliary means including an element having a stepby-step rotary movement.

21. In a control device, a traveling element and a rotating element, stop means operated by said traveling and rotating elements, and adapted to be actuated to stop the rotating element upon the stopping of the traveling element, and means adapted to impart movement to said member corresponding to the movement imparted by the travel of the traveling element, during a predetermined initial period, the last named means including a ratchet mounted for ro tary movement.

22. In combination, a rotating element, a traveling element, means for stopping the rotating element when the traveling element ceases its movement, and means preventing such stopping of the rotating element during a predetermined rotation of same, the last named means including a pivoted spring arm provided with a slot and a rotary ratchet member hcving an eccentrically mounted pin operating in said slot.

23. In combination, record rotatingmeans, sound-reproducing means, means for stopping the record rotating means when the tone arm is moved to elevate the stylus, and other means preventing such stopping during a predetermined movement of such record rotating means, the last means including a ratchet mounted for a rotary step-by-step movement and having means for resetting the stopping means.

24. In combination, a rotating element, a traveling element, means actuated by cessation of movement of the traveling element for stopping the rotating element, and dual means preventing said first-named means from acting during a. predetermined initial period, the second named means including an element adapted for resetting the stopping means.

25. In combination, a rotating element, a traveling element, means actuated by cessation of movement of the traveling element for stopping the rotating element, and a plurality of different means preventing said first-named means from acting during a predetermined initial period, one of the plurality of 'means carrying a pin for coaction with an element of the first named means when resetting the stopping mechanism.

26. In combination, a rotating element, a traveling element, means actuated by cessation of movement 01' the traveling element for stopping the rotating element, and means preventing said first-named means from acting during a predetermined initial movement of the rotating element, the last named means including a rotary ratchet having one tooth removed to provide a blank, a pin carried by the ratchet and a pivoted spring arm having a slot in which said pin operates.

27. In combination, a. rotating element, a traveling element, means actuated by cessation of movement of the traveling element for stopping the rotating element, and means preventing said first-named means from acting during a predetermined initial movement of the traveling element, the last named means including a rotary ratchet, a

pin carried by the ratchet, a pivoted spring arm having a slot in which said pin operates, and a second pin carried by the ratchet for coaction with an element of the first named means when resetting the latter.

28. In a control device, a traveling element and a rotating element, stop means operated by said traveling and rotating elements, and adapted to be actuated to stop the rotating element upon the stopping or the traveling element, auxiliary means adapted to act with the brake means in substitution of the function of the traveling element during a predetermined period, the auxiliary means including a ratchet mounted for rotary movement and having a blank space.

29. In a control device, a traveling element and a rotating element, stop means operated by said traveling and rotating elements, and adapted to be actuated to stop the rotating element upon the stopping of the traveling element, auxiliary means adapted to act upon the brake means in substitution of the function of the traveling element during a predetermined period, the auxiliary means including a ratchet mounted for rotary movement and a spring arm associated therewith.

30. In a control device, a traveling element and a rotating element, stop means operated by said traveling and rotating elements, and adapted to be actuated to stop the rotating element upon the stopping of the traveling element, auxiliary means adapted to act upon the brake means in substitution of the function of the traveling element during apredetermined period, the auxiliary means including a ratchet mounted for rotary movement and having a slotted spring arm associated therewith, the ratchet carrying a pin operating in the slot of the arm.

31. In a control device, a t'aveling element and a rotating element, stop means operated by said traveling and rotating elements, and adapted to be actuated to stop the rotating element upon the stopping of the traveling element, auxiliary means adapted to act upon the brake means in substitution of the function of the traveling element during a predetermined period, the auxiliary means including an element mounted for step-by-step movement and having a. slotted spring arm associated therewith, the

element carrying a pin operating in the slot in said arm.

32. In a control device, a traveling element and a rotating element, stop means operated by said traveling and rotating elements, and adapted to be actuated to stop the rotating element upon the stopping of the traveling element, auxiliary means adapted to act upon the brake means in substitution of the function of the traveling element during a predetermined period, the auxiliary means including a ratchet mounted for rotary movement and a pivoted spring arm associated therewith.

33. An attachment for phonographs comprising means to automatically apply the brake thereof to stop the turntable at the completion of a record, said means also be coming active when the stylus is raised from the record. I

34. A phonograph stop, including a stop arm, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement, a cam adapted to move the stop arm to actuate the plunger and throw a brake, and means operatively associated with the cam preliminarily taking a step-by-step movement to produce tension on the stop arm so that the cam is avoided.

35. A phonograph stop, including a pivotally mounted stop arm, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement, a cam adapted to move the stop arm to actuate the plunger and throw a brake, and means operatively associated with the cam preliminarily taking a step-by-step movement to produce tension on the stop arm so that the cam is avoided.

36. The combination with an automatic phonograph stop, of means preventing stopping of the turntable during a predetermined movement thereof, such means including an element having a step-by-step movement.

37. In an automatic phonograph stop, a step-by-step moving safety means adapted to prevent stopping of the turntable during a predetermined period of rotation thereof.

38. The combination with an automatic phonograph stop, of means preventing stopping of the turntable during a predetermined movement thereof, such means including a spring arm adapted to be placed under tension by a rotating element having a stepby-step movement.

JAMES E. F ELTN ER. 

